by Megan Garcia
When Mookie Betts returned to right field on Aug. 12, it meant a new role for Jason Heyward. He now has to be ready in a pinch.
Heyward was prepared for the moment on Tuesday.
“I’ve had a lot of time to prepare for a moment like that one,” Heyward said. “To take the thinking out of it. Just go up there and trust your approach and if it comes through — amazing. If doesn’t, go up there and see if there’s anything else you can tweak the next time.”
He blasted a three-run home run to the right field corner in the eighth to finish the Dodgers’ come-from-behind win. The Dodgers beat the Mariners 6–3 on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
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“I believe the game honored him,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He does things the right way. He’s ready when called upon. He came with a huge hit. That was probably the highlight for me of the season, thus far,”
It was Heyward’s second pinch-hit homer this season. He last did it in Colorado on June 18.
Buehler Feels Closer to Previous Form
Walker Buehler is still trying to find his way.
Buehler went four innings in his 11th start of the season. This marks his sixth start where he has not pitched into the fifth inning. He struck out one batter — Leo Rivas in the fourth.
The right-hander threw 82 pitches, landing 50 as strikes.
“I thought he was striking his curveball much more. I thought he stayed in his delivery much better,” Roberts said. “I could’ve pushed him potentially to the fifth inning, but he was stressed every inning.”
Despite the short outing, Buehler feels closer to a performing level.
“I feel a lot better about the way I am able to throw the baseball,” Buehler said. “Now I got to go get results and all that stuff. Hopefully, I get a couple more starts to figure it out and get that confidence built back up. I feel better about tonight than the box suggests, and it’s been a long time since I felt that way.”
Jorge Polanco was Buehler’s primary culprit in the batter’s box. The №6 hitter recorded three RBI in his two at-bats against Buehler with a single and a double.
Lux and Muncy Go Back-to-Back
Gavin Lux and Max Muncy each homered on Tuesday in the fourth inning. They also homered during Monday’s game in the seventh.
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Lux has continued his upward trend since the All-Star Break. He put the Dodgers on the board when he clubbed his seventh home run since the All-Star break in the fourth inning. It was also his 16th extra-base hit in 30 games.
He has been one of the best hitters in baseball since July 19. He entered Game 2 of the series with the second-best batting average in the National League during the second half of the season at .366 with eight doubles and 20 RBI.
Lux slashed .213/.267/.295/.562 during the first half of the season. He hit three home runs with 24 RBI in 78 games. He is one RBI shy of tying his career-high of 46.
“Gavin has been huge,” Roberts said. “He just keeps having great hits and playing great defense.”
Muncy went 1-for-2 with two walks in his second game back from the injured list.
Where They Stand
The Dodgers are 75–52. Jack Flaherty (7–5) will take the mound in the series finale on Wednesday against Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (7–9). San Diego won its matchup against the Minnesota Twins, keeping the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West to 2 1/2 games.
Jason Heyward comes through in a pinch was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.